Manchester City faced RB Leipzig in an exciting Champions League game that saw Pep Guardiola's side endure a challenging first half before staging a remarkable comeback. The Cityzens' boss Guardiola expressed his thoughts on the match during an interview with TNT Sports, emphasising the demanding nature of Europe's elite competition.
"That's the Champions League," Guardiola remarked while speaking to TNT Sports, reflecting on the intensity of the competition. He acknowledged RB Leipzig's consistent performance in reaching the last-16 for the past five or six years and highlighted defensive lapses in the first half. Guardiola stressed the importance of winning key actions, which his team fell short of initially. Despite the setbacks, he commended the squad's resilience, saying: "We are first in the group, and I am very satisfied with the reaction at the end. The team runs, fights, and has spirit."
Guardiola attributed the turnaround to tactical adjustments, singling out Rico Lewis for an exceptional performance and praising Phil Foden's decisive movements in the final third: "We changed with our press. Rico [Lewis] was again exceptional and Phil [Foden] in the final third had decisive movements. I think Jeremy [Doku] changed our rhythm." Additionally, he credited Jeremy Doku for changing the team's rhythm. On Erling Haaland breaking the record as the fastest player to reach 40 Champions League goals, Guardiola acknowledged the achievement, stating: "It's good for him."
Phil Foden, a key player in the comeback, echoed Guardiola's sentiments, describing the first half as the worst he had seen from the team. He said: "First half was the worst I've seen us. Courage and motivation courage changed it around. This team has great mentality and its so nice to see. We just needed that [first] goal to get going. Even the fans were a lot louder after the goal. Once the first went in the motivation was there. We've got a great record at the Etihad and it only takes one goal to change things.
Reflecting on his goal, the England midfielder said: "I've been rushing a few chances but I passed it through the guys legs. Fortunately it went in."
The match showcased Manchester City's resilience, contributing to their impressive record in the Champions League. The victory extended their unbeaten streak in home matches to 29, including the last 11 consecutive wins. This achievement places them in the company of European giants like Barcelona and Bayern Munich, holding the joint-second-longest Champions League home unbeaten streak.
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